George (to Ms. Dvorak): Ms. Dvorak? Would you like something to eat? You've been in here all day. It's quite unlike you.
Ms. Dvorak (to George): Thank you, George, but honestly I'm fine. I had some toast with my tea earlier.
George (to Ms. Dvorak): What exactly are you doing in here with all these papers?
Ms. Dvorak (to George): Looking for something. There was a gentleman the other night at a pub said something that caught my attention. I'm trying to figure out why it rang a bell. Go off and find something to entertain yourself with, dear. I'll be fine.
George (to Ms. Dvorak): If you say so, ma'am.
At Marlena & Victor's apartment; West Piedmont:
Raven Munroe (to Marlena): Hey Mars, is Victor around? He loaned me a book & I wanted to get it back to him.
Marlena (to Raven): No, I don't know where the fuck he's wandered off to this time, but I can make sure he gets it. You wanna stick around? Yuki & I were watching a movie.
Raven (to Marlena): No, thanks. I was on the way to my mom's for dinner. Maybe some other time, though. See ya.
Marlena (to Raven): Yeah, bye. I'll tell Victor you dropped by with his book. I'm sure he's happy to get it back… (to Yukiko) What!?! What's with the fucking face?
Yukiko (to Marlena): … She's awfully pretty. Who is she?
Marlena (to Yukiko): Heh. Raven goes to the school with us. She's nice, a bit ubergoth sometimes, but not terrib-- Are you fucking jealous?
Yukiko (to Marlena): No, of course not! Why would you say that?
Marlena (to Yukiko): Heh… My fucking mistake. I'm gonna go make some coffee. Want some?
Yukiko (to Marlena): No, I'm fine. In fact, I think I'm going to get changed and go for a run. I'll be back in a bit.
Marlena (to Yukiko): Have fun.
A short time later:
Marlena (to Victor): Hey Victor. Raven returned your book, and Yuki is off running somewhere. You hungry?
Victor (to Marlena): YES. I'm starving. What time is it? ... Did I forget to eat?
Marlena (to Victor): It's about 3 in the fucking afternoon. There's leftover meatloaf to eat in the fridge. What the hell have you been doing all day?
Victor (to Marlena): I can honestly say that has not happened in recent memory. Thank you. This morning I was trying to get my ruddy portfolio ready. I've got my creative writing review coming up. I'm ready to gouge out my bloody eyes. And then Dad had me helping him with the Impala this afternoon.
Marlena (to Victor): So, a whole lotta fucking fun, huh? Well, I hate to add to the pile of shit that has been your day but we need to talk about something.
Victor (to Marlena): Uh oh. That doesn't sound good.
Marlena (to Victor): Yeah well, it's not easy for me to say this. Look, I really like Yuki but… How long is she planning on staying here? It's been a few weeks now. She's not a student here & I don't want us to get in trouble having her here in campus housing.
Victor (to Marlena): Oh... Is that a problem? That's totes a problem, isn't it? Shit... Alright. I'll talk to her. I'm not sure if it's safe for her to go back to Britannia yet. I'm sure my mom and dad will let her stay... On the roof...
Marlena (to Victor): Really!?! Are you trying to make me feel fucking guilty?
Victor (to Marlena): No. Well... Yes. Maybe just a little. She has a bit of claustrophobia about sleeping inside. Apparently, her mother used to "train" her in some exceptionally cruel ways.
Marlena (to Victor): Look, I know you like her and everything. But, you only just met her & she's been here for weeks, she doesn't go here & I don't want any fucking trouble from the school. I only have one more semester to go. And, if your little romantic tryst gets in my way from graduating on time. You're going to have more than fucking spies or pirates to worry about cuz I'll kill you.
Victor (to Marlena): Alright, alright. No need to threaten me with a box cutter... I understand.
Marlena (to Victor): Thank you.
Victor (to Marlena): ...You're welcome. I'm going to go take a shower and get this grease scrubbed off.
Marlena (to Victor): Okay.
A few moments later:
Yukiko (to Victor): Hey there. You need help with that?
Victor (to Yukiko): Yuki! Heh. You, uh, you startled me.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. Sorry.
Victor (to Yukiko): Yes. You seem very penitent. Heh... Give me a moment, and I'll be done in a moment.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh, that's a shame… I could use a quick shower, too. But, I guess I can wait.
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh! Were you hoping to conserve water?
Yukiko (to Victor): Yes, I'm very conscientious about the environment. ;-P
Victor (to Yukiko): I thought that might be your primary concern. If you're going to hop in here, hurry up. We're going to lose the hot water.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee. Yes, sir.
A few hours later, at the Longfellow Inn; New London, Britannia:
Charles (to George): Is there anything I can get you, Mr. Fitzroy, or are you going to continue to watch me wash dishes and make snide comments?
George (to Charles): Hmmm, I don't know, I AM really enjoying the snide comments while watching you do menial labor. It's quite entertaining.
Charles (to George): If you don't find something to do and stop staring, I'm going to put you to work... It's disconcerting, honestly.
George (to Charles): Oh, fine… What do you want me to do?
Charles (to George): Here. You can dry. Is making fun of me really the most interesting thing you have to do on your day off?
George (to Charles): Sadly, yes… To be honest, I don't have many friends. And well, I happen to like you. I mean, you're bloody infuriating with your whole stodgy demeanor & your silly hangup over that useless girl but there it is.
Charles (to George): Hung up? I'm most certainly not hung up! I'm just... I'm very grateful to the Longfellow family for everything they've done, and... You can stop laughing at anytime, you know! Besides, it's not as though she's interested, so it hardly matters.
George (to Charles): Heh... You are so incredibly funny. Your girl liked you, you big dolt, that's why she ran off to the other side of town. Doesn't much matter now, anyway. She's got herself a new beau. Quite a sexy lad, too. All foreign and exotic looking. You should have been more assertive, Chuckles. Taken her in your arms and declared your affection for her or something.
Charles (to George): ... I doubt very much that Ms. Persephone would have liked that. And, yes, I know about Mr. Joseph. I'm sure that approach works well in those romance novels you're always reading, but I doubt it works in real life.
George (to Charles): Well, that's a bloody shame, if you ask me. Everyone deserves a bit of romance.
Charles (to George): Heh. Well, some of us must remain content with not being murdered in our sleep, I suppose. I never would have suspected you were a romantic, Mr. Fitzroy. Tell me truthfully, if some bloke were to grab you, profess is love, and try to sweep you into his arms, you'd have a knife between his ribs before his lips met yours.
George (to Charles): … It would depend on the bloke.
Charles (to George): Oh? I admit that I am surprised at your answer. I think that's the last dish. Thank you for your help. Would you like something to eat?
George (to Charles): Oh, thank you for the offer. I was hoping to go have myself a curry & sneak into a show… You wouldn't happen to have any interest in joining me, would you?
Charles (to George): I... I suppose I wouldn't mind. I don't go out into the city very often. You're not having me on, are you?
George (to Charles): No, of course not! If you don't want to come with me, you don't have to… I just thought it would be, um, nice.
Charles (to George): I didn't say I didn't want to come! ...You're always teasing me. I wasn't sure this wasn't another joke at my expense.
George (to Charles): Bloody hell, boys are stupid! Do I honestly have to spell it out to you?
Charles (to George): I am NOT stupid! If I annoy you so bloody much, just go...
George (to Charles): Fine! I will… You're just bloody awful, Charles Turner!
Charles (to George): Yes, I know! I'm awful and stodgy and stupid. You've made your opinion of me VERY clear. I'm sorry for assuming otherwise!
George (to Charles): I bloody well like you, you idiot! Why do you think I'm always here? But, don't worry, I won't be bothering you, anymore... Have fun mooning over silly, pointless girls.
Charles (to George): Wait? You WHAT? What do you mean you like me?
George (to Charles): What's to understand? I like you… Doesn't much matter now, does it? You clearly don't like me or you wouldn't be so bloody awful to me all the time.
Charles (to George): I never said I didn't like you! I... I--I'm sorry. I don't mean to shout. And, I didn't mean to be horrible to you.
George (to Charles): … So, you do like me?
Charles (to George): I... I don't know. I mean, I do enjoy your visits. When you're not going out of your way to tease me, of course. But, to be honest, Mr. Fitzroy, I wasn't ever sure what your intentions were, and it made me a bit nervous. I mean, you are a member of the Smith gang, and you are a very pretty girl... I'm sorry. That wasn't appropriate.
George (to Charles): … Oh… I should go… Sorry to have bothered you, Mister Turner... It was silly of me to think you'd like me. I mean, why would you? I dress like a boy, I run with the Smith gang & work for Ms. Dvorak, and I tease you--
Charles (to George): But... I didn't mean... I'm very sorry, miss. I mean, sir! I mean... Good heavens. I'm very sorry to have upset you.
Persephone (to Charles & George): Hello, Charles... Oh. Goodbye, Mr. Fitzroy. Did I come at a bad time?
George (to Persephone): Not at all, Miss. I was just heading to have a curry dinner. (to Charles & Persephone) Good evening to you both!
Charles (to Persephone & George): No! ... I mean, yes, miss. I'm afraid so. Um, good night, Mr. Fitzroy. I'm going to... Excuse me.
Persephone: Was it something I said!?! (to Charles) Charles? What's wrong?
Charles (to Persephone): I... I don't know. I'm not sure, miss. I believe I just hurt miss--Mr. Fitzroy's feelings rather severely.
Persephone (to Charles): Oh... Care to talk about it or would that be awkward?
Charles (to Persephone): I...I don't know. I'm... I'm afraid I'm very confused.
Persephone (to Charles): Heehee. I can only imagine... So, do you like her?
Charles (to Persephone): I'm... I'm not sure. I've been rather, um, guarded around her, because I wasn't sure what her motives were for hanging around me all the time. Which, I suppose, was rather unfair, but after what Ms. Dvorak told me... I was worried. I'm a heel.
Persephone (to Charles): Do you know where she's gone for dinner, Charles?
Charles (to Persephone): She said she wanted to get curry and sneak into the theater. I think I know where she's gone.
Persephone (to Charles): Well, stop being scared to tell people what you really feel & go find her. I'll stay here & help out. Besides, I wanted to see the family, anyway. Go on, off with you!
Charles (to Persephone): I... You're right, miss. Thank you.
An hour or so later, at the Globe Theatre; New London, Britannia:
George: ... How do stupid, bloody girls wear this fluff?
Charles (to George): Oh! Excuse me, miss. I thought you were... Mr. Fitzo-- I mean... Miss Fitzroy! I didn't recognize you.
George (to Charles): What the bloody hell are you doing here!?!
Charles (to George): I, um, I came to find you. I felt awful for hurting your feelings, and I... I'm very sorry I was suspicious of your motives. I have a, um, familial connection to the Smith gang, and Ms. Dvorak cautioned me to be very cautious not to let Achilles discover that. It isn't an excuse, miss, it's just... You've never given me any reason to suspect you. I'm very sorry I did.
George (to Charles): I'm with the Smith gang because Ms. Dvorak was hiding me in plain sight under Smith's nose. My father was Wilbur Franklin, head inventor & owner of Vernian Industries. Smith wants the designs for something my father was working on. I have no loyalty to him.
Charles (to George): After my mother grew ill, I couldn't afford the mortgage we put on the home. I became indebted to the Smith Gang because I stayed in one of their flop houses. It was foolish, but I was desperate... Charles Turner isn't the name of my father. My mother told me that to spare me from the unpleasant truth. My mother was one of Achilles's mistresses, and I'm his son.
George (to Charles): Oh, Charl-- Mister Turner, I'm so sorry. That had to be a tough thing to discover.
Charles (to George): You don't have to call me Mr. Turner, miss. The fact that you do puts you firmly in the minority, in fact. And yes, that was... It was difficult. I suspected Mum, I mean, my mother was writing the letters from my father, but I never thought... Well, one never suspects one's mother would hold with someone like Achilles.
George (to Charles): You're nothing like your father, Mr. Turner. You are sweet, kind, a generous heart... not to mention, manners & breeding. You're your own man... And you'll always be a Turner to me.
Charles (to George): Well, I'm not so sure about breeding... Heh. I was only kidding. Thank you, Ms. Fitzroy. That... That means quite a lot. Would you allow me to buy you a ticket to the theater, miss? They won't be very good seats, but better than sneaking in, I would imagine. It would be only fitting as an apology.
George (to Charles): Oh, um, that would be lovely... May I take your arm?
Charles (to George): Yes, of course. If you'd like. I hope you don't take this the wrong way, Ms Fitzroy as you look quite lovely tonight, but you seem much more at ease in trousers. Oh! I... I'm sorry! That was most likely insulting. I didn't mean to imply... I'm sorry, miss. You fluster me a bit.
George (to Charles): Heehee. It's okay, Charles. I grew up wearing coveralls & test driving my Dad's inventions. Dresses were only worn for special occasions like the theater or big parties... You look quite handsome & dashing. And, please call me George... My full name is Georgette but no one ever calls me that.
Charles (to George): Oh. Thank you mi--George. I... Um, thank you. Shall we?
George (to Charles): Yes, let's.
